Braking means for roller conveyers



Oct. 17, 1944. E. R. MUDDIMAN 2,360,708

BRKING MEANS FOR ROLLER CONVEYORS Filed Feb. l, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet lFLL E l J.. v j.

lINVENTOR; f?. MUgDD Ma ATToR Y.

Oct. 17, 1944. E. R. MUDDIMAN n BRAKING MEANS FOR ROLLER CONVEYORS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filevd Feb. l, 1945 FILI-:1 E-

mvENToR; Erl/21.1.

Muay/M4N ATTORN Patented Oct. 17, 1944 'UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ica 8Claims.

This invention relatesto roller c'onveyers and,

particularly, to an improved braking or locking means for preventingrotation of the rollers of a vertically movable section thereof.

It is oftentimes desirable to transfer the mate- 1 rials passing along agravity roller conveyer from the conveyer to a point thereabove. Such isthe case in the steel industry for moving a stack of metallic sheetsfrom a roller conveyer to position thereabove so that the sheets may befed into a processing or similar machine. For moving the stack of sheetsto such an elevated position above to the conveyer yand oppositethe'processing machine, there is provided a movable section in theroller conveyer which is adapted to be' moved vertically `by means of anelevating device, usually a hydrauliclift. When the stack of sheets isdisposed on the rollers of the 'movable section and the section movedout of the plane ofthe conveyer to an elevated position, there is dangerthat the stack of sheets will accidentallylroll over the rollers anddrop from the movable section during the elevating ,thereof or after thestack of sheets has reached, its elevated position.

locking means for preventing rotation of the.

rollers of a vertically movable section of a roller conveyer while thesame is being elevated so as to prevent the load thereon from beingunintentionally displaced therefrom.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved means forpreventing rotation of the rollers of a vertically movable section of aroller conveyer while the same is being elevated which is simple andinexpensive in its construction and consists of a minimum number ofparts.

It ls a further object of this invention to provide an improved brakingor locking means for the rollers of a vertically movable section of aroller conveyer which is efficient in its use and effectively preventsthe rollers of the movable section from rotating during the elevationthereof wherein the elevating means simultaneously locksl the rollersagainst rotation and moves the section vertically thereby automaticallypreventing rotation of the rollers at the instant the section iselevated.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be moreapparent in the course of the following specification and will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown,

Y for the purpose of illustration, an-embodiment which my invention mayassume in practice.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the movable section of a rollerconveyer showing the improved braking or locking means of my inventionincorporated therewith;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line III- III of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown aconventional type g'ravity roller conveyer-Zhaving a frame consisting ofangle iron members 3 in which a plurality of conveyer rollers 4 arejournaled. At one end of the conveyer 2, there is positioned a movablehorizontally disposed conveyer section 5 having a frame consisting of anangle iron members 6 arranged to either side thereof in which there isjournaled a plurality of similar conveyer rollers 'l and angle ironmembers 6 positioned at each end thereof.

' Directly below the movable conveyer section 5. there is positioned aconventional type hydraulic lift 8 for the purpose of elevating themovable conveyer section 5 from the plane of the conveyer to a pointthereabove for transferring articles from the conveyer 2 to mechanismpositioned thereabove. v A

According to the present invention, on top of the table 9 which ismounted on top of the plunger I0 of the hydraulic lift 8, there ispositioned a. plurality of block-like members l2, three in the presentinstance, which are preferably made of wood. There is arranged in thetop of each of the block-like members l2 a plurality of transverselyextending grooves I3 which are spaced apart substantially the samedistance as the rollers 1 are spaced apart and, preferably, have a V orU-shaped cross j section, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

'Ihe improved braking or locking means of my invention functions in thefollowing manner: The movable conveyer section 5 ispnormaln stack orpack of metalic sheets I'I disposed thereon which are adapted to betransferred from the conveyer to the entering side of a processingmachine I8 positioned thereabove. The stack of sheets I1 on the skid I8are moved to the end of the conveyer 2 until the skid is positionedentirely on the rollers 1 of the movable conveyer section 5. The.hydraulic lift 8 is then moved upwardly by a fluid pressure from asuitable source of supply (not shown) so that the rollers 'I arepositioned in the grooves I3 of the block-like members I2. At thisinstant, it will be seen that the block-like members I2 will lock therollers 'I of the movable conveyer section 5 against movement so as toprevent rotation thereof thereby preventing the skid I6 together withthe sheets I1 piled thereon from rolling over and along the rollers 1.Upon further upward movement of the hydraulic lift 8, it will be seenthat the movable conveyer section 5 together with the skid and stack ofsheets I1 disposed thereon is moved until it reaches a. position abovethe conveyer. as shown in broken lines of Figure 1 of the drawings, sothat the sheets are positioned opposite the processing' machine I8.After the sheets have been removed from the skid and it is desired toreturn the same to position on the conveyer 2, the fluid pressure in thehydraulic lift 8 is released therefrom and the movable section 5together with the plunger I will move downwardly until the movableconveyer section is again disposed in the plane of the conveyer 2 withthe angle iron members 6 resting upon shoulders of the structuralmembers I4 so as to rigidly support the same. The plunger I0 of thehydraulic lift together with the block-like members I2 continue to movedownwardly until the-block-like members are spaced from and clear of therollers 'I of the movable section 5 so as to permit them again to rotatefreely. The skid I 6 can then be rolled along the conveyer 2 and anotherskid loaded with sheets disposed thereon for transferring the sheets tothe processing machine in a like manner.

As a result of my invention, it will be seen that the rollers 1 of thesection 5 are automatically locked against rotation and that thearticles, namely, the skid I6 together with the sheets Il disposedthereon, in the present instance, are securely positioned on the movableconveyer section 5 of the conveyer from the moment the movable sectionis moved out of the plane of the conveyer 2. As a result it will be seenthat the articles or the stack of sheets disposed on the movable sectioncannot be accidentally displaced therefrom due to the rotation of theroller 'I for the reason that these rollers are prevented from rotationduring the entire time that the movable section 5 is disposed in itselevated position thereby eliminating any hazards to the machineoperator or workmen in the vicinity thereof. It willbe understood thatsuch a movable conveyer section may be`used in certain cases forreceiving articles or sheets while the.

same is disposed in its elevated position. In such case, the improvedroller locking means of the present invention will be just as effectivein preventing rotation of the rollers of the movable section so as toprevent the articles or sheets from rolling therefrom.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for thepurpose of illustration and description and that various other forms maybe devised within the scope of my invention, as defined in the appendedclaims.

Iclaim:

1. In combination with a roller conveyer, a movable horizontallydisposed conveyer section arranged with said conveyer which ispositioned normally ln alignment with the conveyer, said section havinga plurality of freely rotatable rollers carried thereby, means forelevating said conveyer section to a point thereabove so as to transferarticles therefrom or thereonto, and means carried by said elevatingmeans whichl contacts each of the rollers of said movable section forpreventing rotation thereof While said section is being elevated orlowered, said elevating means adapted to support and elevate saidsection solely through said roller contacting means.

, ,2. In combination with a roller conveyer, a movable horizontallydisposed conveyer section arranged with said conveyer which ispositioned normally in alignment with the conveyer, said section havinga plurality of freely rotatable rollers carried thereby, means forelevating said conveyer section to a point thereabove so as to transferarticles therefrom or thereunto, and at least one member carried by saidelevating means having a plurality of spaced apart grooves arrangedtherein in which one of each of the rollers of the movable section isadapted to be positioned upon the elevating of said movable section bysaid elevating means, said elevating means yadapted to support andelevate said section solely through contacting the rollers thereofwhereby the rollers of said section are prevented from rotating duringthe elevating or lowering of said section.

3.1n combination with a roller conveyer, a movable horizontally disposedconveyer section arranged with said conveyer which is positionednormally in alignment with the conveyer, said section having a.plurality of freely rotatable rollers carried thereby, means forelevating said conveyer section out of the plane of the conveyer to apoint thereabove so as to transfer articles therefrom or thereonto, anda plurality of spaced apart block-like members carried by said elevatingmeans, each of said block-like members having a plurality of spacedapart grooves arranged therein with each positioned directly oppositeone of the rollers of the movable section and in which the respectiverollers of the movable section are adapted to be positioned uponelevating or lowering the same by said elevating means, said elevatingmeans adapted to support and elevate said section solely throughcontacting the rollers thereof whereby the rollers of said section areprevented from rotating, during the elevating or lowering of saidsection.

4,. In combination with a roller conveyer, a movable conveyer sectionarranged with said conveyer which is positioned normally in the plan ofthe conveyer, a vertical hydraulic lift arranged directly below saidmovable conveyer section for elevating the same to a point thereaboveout of the plane of the conveyer so as to transfer articles to or fromsaid conveyer section, a tablelike portion carried by said hydrauliclift, and a plurality of spaced apart block-like members arranged onsaid table-like member, each of said block-like members having aplurality of spaced apart grooves arranged therein with each positioneddirectly opposite one of the rollers of said movable section and inwhich the rollers of the section are adapted to be positioned uponelevating the section by means of said lift Whereby the rollers of saidsection are prevented from rotating.

5. In combination with a roller conveyer, a movable horizontallydisposed conveyer section arranged with said conveyer which ispositioned normally in lalignment with the conveyer, said section havinga plurality of freely rotatable rollers carried thereby, means forelevating said conveyer section out of the plane of the conveyer to apoint thereabove so as to transfer articles therefrom or thereonto,means for supporting said movable section in alignment with theconveyer, and means carried by said elevating means which contacts eachof the rollers of said movable section upon vertical movement of theelevating means, said elevating means adapted to support andelevate saidsection solely through contacting the rollers carried thereby wherebythe section simultaneously is moved vertically and the rollers areprevented from rotating.

6. In combination With a roller conveyer, a movable horizontallydisposed conveyer section arranged with said conveyer which ispositioned vating means, said last mentioned means hav-v ing a pluralityof spaced apart grooves arranged therein with each positioned oppositeone of the rollers of said movable section and in which the respectiverollers vare adapted to be positioned upon elevating said movablesection by said movement of said means, said elevating means adapted tosupport and elevate said section solely through contacting the rollersthereof whereby the section simultaneously is moved vertically androllers thereof are prevented from rotating.

7. In combination with a roller conveyer, a movable horizontallydisposed conveyer section arranged with said conveyer which ispositioned normally in alignment with the conveyer, said section havinga plurality of freely rotatable rollers carried thereby, means forvertically moving said section out of the plane of said conveyer so asto transfer articles therefrom or thereonto, and means carried by saidmoving means which contacts each of the rollers of said movable sectionfor preventing rotation thereof while said section is being elevated orlowered, said moving means adapted to support and move said sectionsolely through said roller ccntacting means.

8. In combination with a roller conveyer, a movable horizontallydisposed conveyer section arranged with said conveyer which ispositioned normally in alignment with the conveyer, said section havinga plurality of freely rotatable rollers carried thereby, means forvertically moving said conveyer section out of the plane of saidconveyer so as to transfer articles therefrom or thereonto, and at leastone member carried by said moving means having a plurality of spacedapart grooves arranged therein in which one of each of the rollers isadapted to be Vpositioned upon the moving of said movable section bysaid moving means, said moving means adapted to support and move saidsection solely through contacting the rollers thereof whereby therollers of said section are prevented from rotating during the elevatingor lowering of said section. A

EARLL R. yMUDDIMAN.

Disclaimer 2,360,708.-Earl R. Muddiman, Wilkinsburg, Pa. BRAKING MEANSFOR ROLLER CONVEYERS. Patent dated Oct. 17, 1944. Disclaimer 4filed June29, 1950, by the inventor.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1 to 8, inclusive, of saidpatent.

[Oficial Gazette July Z5, 1950]

